SEATTLE — Nicky Lopez flared a two-out single to left field in the second inning Tuesday night, driving in Wyatt Langford for a 2-0 Texas Rangers lead in a spot start manager Skip Schumaker had explained before the game on Rangers Sports Network.
Miller’s success against right-handed hitters is what Schumaker said shaped the card he turned in at T-Mobile Park.
“I think timing. Hitting is always about timing. And if we’re on time for his really good fastball, we should be okay,” Schumaker said. “He’s had really good success against right-handers. That’s why we have a number of lefties. Nicky Lopez getting the spot start today.”
Langford walked ahead of him. Lopez started at second base and hit ninth.
Bryce Miller had struck out four of the first eight Rangers he faced.
Nicky Lopez Joined The Texas Rangers In 2026
Lopez joined Texas in 2026 after stints with the Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, and Chicago Cubs. Kansas City drafted him in the fifth round in 2016, and he debuted with the Royals on May 14, 2019. He has started at second base and shortstop for the Rangers this season.
Lopez was part of the last meeting between the clubs as well. On July 24 at Globe Life Field, with runners on the corners in the sixth inning of a 3-3 game, he dropped a sacrifice bunt in front of the plate. Reliever Eduard Bazardo fielded it barehanded and threw high off catcher Cal Raleigh‘s mitt, and Evan Carter scored. Texas won 5-4.
Skip Schumaker On The Texas Rangers’ Power Against Bryce Miller
Texas has homered off Miller before, and the last time the clubs met the Rangers’ right-handed hitters got to him.
“I think our righties, the last time we faced him, hit a couple homers. Jake Burger hit a home run against them opposite field,” Schumaker explained. “So hopefully we can get some power, but it’s always on time with the fastball.”
Corey Seager homered off Miller in the first inning Tuesday for the game’s first run. Jake Burger hit his home run off Miller on July 24, a two-run shot in the fourth that tied that game 3-3 and barely cleared the right field wall. Langford homered off Miller in the first inning that night, driving a 1-1 splitter over the fence in left. Burger and Langford both hit right-handed.
Miller is 4-8 with a 4.01 ERA in 2026. He was 0-4 in six career starts against Texas entering Tuesday. Seattle drafted him in the fourth round out of Texas A&M in 2021, and he struck out 10 without a walk in his major league debut on May 2, 2023, against the Athletics.
Texas leads the season series 7-3, and six of those wins came at Globe Life Field. Tuesday was the 11th meeting of the year and the last of the season. Seattle is 67-77 and third in the American League West, and the Mariners are 38-34 at home.
Texas opened the road trip at 71-73 with 18 games left, two games behind the Houston Astros in the American League West and two games out of the third American League wild card spot. The Rangers are 31-41 on the road this season.
Cal Quantrill started for Texas. Robert Garcia came off the 60-day injured list Monday, and Josh Jung began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday. Most of the third-base work in Jung’s absence has gone to Ezequiel Duran.
Cody Bradford starts Wednesday and Jacob deGrom takes the finale Thursday. Both games begin at 3:10 p.m. CT on Rangers Sports Network, and the Rangers open a three-game series at the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday.
